Merck PD1 – a MIRACLE Drug! – Melanoma Research Foundation

This topic has 69 replies, 16 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 8 months ago by melinda2.

Post

March 18, 2012 at 7:18 pm

Quote

Candi13

Participant

Hi,

I am posting my good news to share information on the Merck PD-1 trial.

I started this trial on 12/20/11. After only 3 infusions, I could see 2 subq's on my leg and chest start shrinking.

Last week, I had my first 12 week scans since starting to take this drug. My doctor told me that there was NO CANCER 
anywhere in my body. 

Starting the trial, I had tumors in my leg, on my chest and BOTH lungs. Being stage 4, this is truly a miracle after 
only taking this drug for 12 weeks. My doctor told me, I am a “complete responder”.

I know of 2 other patients who started this trial in December 2011 with me. One patient with lung mets is a complete 
responder. The other patient is a partial responder.

For those interested in this trial, here is the link:
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01295827

I know that there are openings for this trial at UCLA Medical Center with Dr. Ribas. His email [email protected] 

Good Luck to Everyone fighting Mel.

Candi

Viewing 44 reply threads

Replies

- - March 18, 2012 at 7:33 pm
  - Quote
  audgator
  Participant
  Although no one is happier than you, I guarantee there are a LOT of happy people reading this, including me. Congrats.
  
  Dan
- - March 18, 2012 at 7:33 pm
  - Quote
  audgator
  Participant
  Although no one is happier than you, I guarantee there are a LOT of happy people reading this, including me. Congrats.
  
  Dan
- - March 18, 2012 at 7:33 pm
  - Quote
  audgator
  Participant
  Although no one is happier than you, I guarantee there are a LOT of happy people reading this, including me. Congrats.
  
  Dan
- - March 18, 2012 at 7:54 pm
  - Quote
  Gene_S
  Participant
  Wow what wonderful news you received. We are so happy for you.
  
  NED is one thing my husband keep hoping for also. He is making progress but is really hoping one day he can add to his profile. NED.
  
  Sounds to me like it is time for you to celebrate.
  
  Judy (loving wife and caregiver of Gene Stage IV)
- - March 18, 2012 at 7:54 pm
  - Quote
  Gene_S
  Participant
  Wow what wonderful news you received. We are so happy for you.
  
  NED is one thing my husband keep hoping for also. He is making progress but is really hoping one day he can add to his profile. NED.
  
  Sounds to me like it is time for you to celebrate.
  
  Judy (loving wife and caregiver of Gene Stage IV)
- - March 18, 2012 at 7:54 pm
  - Quote
  Gene_S
  Participant
  Wow what wonderful news you received. We are so happy for you.
  
  NED is one thing my husband keep hoping for also. He is making progress but is really hoping one day he can add to his profile. NED.
  
  Sounds to me like it is time for you to celebrate.
  
  Judy (loving wife and caregiver of Gene Stage IV)
- - March 18, 2012 at 8:12 pm
  - Quote
  MaryD
  Participant
  Wow – that is fantastic news – so happy for you! Thanks for sharing this as it will give hope to so many . .and I wish you continued successful results!
  
  Mary
- - March 18, 2012 at 8:12 pm
  - Quote
  MaryD
  Participant
  Wow – that is fantastic news – so happy for you! Thanks for sharing this as it will give hope to so many . .and I wish you continued successful results!
  
  Mary
- - March 18, 2012 at 8:12 pm
  - Quote
  MaryD
  Participant
  Wow – that is fantastic news – so happy for you! Thanks for sharing this as it will give hope to so many . .and I wish you continued successful results!
  
  Mary
- - March 18, 2012 at 8:44 pm
  - Quote
  yoopergirl
  Participant
  Such good news, I may be taking part in that PD 1 trial at the UW Madison, will have my scans on the 26th and go from there. You bring so much hope to all of us.
- - March 18, 2012 at 8:44 pm
  - Quote
  yoopergirl
  Participant
  Such good news, I may be taking part in that PD 1 trial at the UW Madison, will have my scans on the 26th and go from there. You bring so much hope to all of us.
- - March 18, 2012 at 8:44 pm
  - Quote
  yoopergirl
  Participant
  Such good news, I may be taking part in that PD 1 trial at the UW Madison, will have my scans on the 26th and go from there. You bring so much hope to all of us.
- - March 18, 2012 at 9:11 pm
  - Quote
  jim Breitfeller
  Participant
  Candi, Congrats!!!
  
  Could you go though your time-line of therapies and doses with dates. I would like to see how it falls on a theoretical time scale. It is in my post called "Redirecting the Melanoma Tumor’s Microenvironment in Favor of the Activation of T-cells ". The second graphic.
  
  Thanks in advance
  
  Jimmy B
- - March 18, 2012 at 9:11 pm
  - Quote
  jim Breitfeller
  Participant
  Candi, Congrats!!!
  
  Could you go though your time-line of therapies and doses with dates. I would like to see how it falls on a theoretical time scale. It is in my post called "Redirecting the Melanoma Tumor’s Microenvironment in Favor of the Activation of T-cells ". The second graphic.
  
  Thanks in advance
  
  Jimmy B
  - March 18, 2012 at 10:43 pm
    
    Quote
    Candi13
    Participant
    
    Jimmy,
    
    2009-leukine, 2010-temador, and multiple surgeries
    
    Candi
  - March 18, 2012 at 10:43 pm
    
    Quote
    Candi13
    Participant
    
    Jimmy,
    
    2009-leukine, 2010-temador, and multiple surgeries
    
    Candi
  - March 18, 2012 at 10:43 pm
    
    Quote
    Candi13
    Participant
    
    Jimmy,
    
    2009-leukine, 2010-temador, and multiple surgeries
    
    Candi
- - March 18, 2012 at 9:11 pm
  - Quote
  jim Breitfeller
  Participant
  Candi, Congrats!!!
  
  Could you go though your time-line of therapies and doses with dates. I would like to see how it falls on a theoretical time scale. It is in my post called "Redirecting the Melanoma Tumor’s Microenvironment in Favor of the Activation of T-cells ". The second graphic.
  
  Thanks in advance
  
  Jimmy B
- - March 18, 2012 at 10:04 pm
  - Quote
  rbruce
  Participant
  AWESOME News!!!!!!!! I started this trial at UCSF on the 15th of this month and have been dreading having to wait 12 weeks to see if anything is working. Having a really bad day today yand then I see your posting and turned my day around. Thank you for sharing your wonderful news and I look forward to reading future posts about your continued great response. Have you expereinced any side affects? I had flu like symptoms, achey bones and muscles for a couple days after infusion but that seems to be gone. Robert
- - March 18, 2012 at 10:04 pm
  - Quote
  rbruce
  Participant
  AWESOME News!!!!!!!! I started this trial at UCSF on the 15th of this month and have been dreading having to wait 12 weeks to see if anything is working. Having a really bad day today yand then I see your posting and turned my day around. Thank you for sharing your wonderful news and I look forward to reading future posts about your continued great response. Have you expereinced any side affects? I had flu like symptoms, achey bones and muscles for a couple days after infusion but that seems to be gone. Robert
  - March 18, 2012 at 10:47 pm
    
    Quote
    Candi13
    Participant
    
    Hi Robert,
    
    Do you know if there are any openings a UCSF?? How often do you get infusions???
    
    Good Luck with this trial. I hope you are a complete responder.
    
    BettyJo
  - March 18, 2012 at 11:23 pm
    
    Quote
    rbruce
    Participant
    
    BettyJo,
    
    No openings right now, but they are trying to get additional seats so I would contact them and get on the list.
    
    Robert
  - March 18, 2012 at 11:40 pm
    
    Quote
    Candi13
    Participant
    
    Thanks Robert…how often do you have an infusion? how long is the infusion? BettyJo
  - March 18, 2012 at 11:40 pm
    
    Quote
    Candi13
    Participant
    
    Thanks Robert…how often do you have an infusion? how long is the infusion? BettyJo
  - March 18, 2012 at 11:40 pm
    
    Quote
    Candi13
    Participant
    
    Thanks Robert…how often do you have an infusion? how long is the infusion? BettyJo
  - March 18, 2012 at 11:57 pm
    
    Quote
    rbruce
    Participant
    
    Infusion only lasts about 30 minutes. Clinic vist with Dr., blood test before and after then EKG after takes a total of about 2-3 hours at clinic. Robert
  - March 18, 2012 at 11:57 pm
    
    Quote
    rbruce
    Participant
    
    Infusion only lasts about 30 minutes. Clinic vist with Dr., blood test before and after then EKG after takes a total of about 2-3 hours at clinic. Robert
  - March 18, 2012 at 11:57 pm
    
    Quote
    rbruce
    Participant
    
    Infusion only lasts about 30 minutes. Clinic vist with Dr., blood test before and after then EKG after takes a total of about 2-3 hours at clinic. Robert
  - March 18, 2012 at 11:59 pm
    
    Quote
    killmel
    Participant
    
    how often are the infusions?
  - March 18, 2012 at 11:59 pm
    
    Quote
    killmel
    Participant
    
    how often are the infusions?
  - March 18, 2012 at 11:59 pm
    
    Quote
    killmel
    Participant
    
    how often are the infusions?
  - March 19, 2012 at 12:06 am
    
    Quote
    rbruce
    Participant
    
    every 2 weeks.
  - March 19, 2012 at 12:06 am
    
    Quote
    rbruce
    Participant
    
    every 2 weeks.
  - March 19, 2012 at 12:06 am
    
    Quote
    rbruce
    Participant
    
    every 2 weeks.
  - March 18, 2012 at 11:23 pm
    
    Quote
    rbruce
    Participant
    
    BettyJo,
    
    No openings right now, but they are trying to get additional seats so I would contact them and get on the list.
    
    Robert
  - March 18, 2012 at 11:23 pm
    
    Quote
    rbruce
    Participant
    
    BettyJo,
    
    No openings right now, but they are trying to get additional seats so I would contact them and get on the list.
    
    Robert
  - March 18, 2012 at 10:47 pm
    
    Quote
    Candi13
    Participant
    
    Hi Robert,
    
    Do you know if there are any openings a UCSF?? How often do you get infusions???
    
    Good Luck with this trial. I hope you are a complete responder.
    
    BettyJo
  - March 18, 2012 at 10:47 pm
    
    Quote
    Candi13
    Participant
    
    Hi Robert,
    
    Do you know if there are any openings a UCSF?? How often do you get infusions???
    
    Good Luck with this trial. I hope you are a complete responder.
    
    BettyJo
- - March 18, 2012 at 10:04 pm
  - Quote
  rbruce
  Participant
  AWESOME News!!!!!!!! I started this trial at UCSF on the 15th of this month and have been dreading having to wait 12 weeks to see if anything is working. Having a really bad day today yand then I see your posting and turned my day around. Thank you for sharing your wonderful news and I look forward to reading future posts about your continued great response. Have you expereinced any side affects? I had flu like symptoms, achey bones and muscles for a couple days after infusion but that seems to be gone. Robert
- - March 18, 2012 at 11:20 pm
  - Quote
  hope4cure1
  Participant
  Terrific, terrific,terrific! Thank you so much for sharing. I'm raising a glass to your continued NED!!!
  
  Hope
- - March 18, 2012 at 11:20 pm
  - Quote
  hope4cure1
  Participant
  Terrific, terrific,terrific! Thank you so much for sharing. I'm raising a glass to your continued NED!!!
  
  Hope
- - March 18, 2012 at 11:20 pm
  - Quote
  hope4cure1
  Participant
  Terrific, terrific,terrific! Thank you so much for sharing. I'm raising a glass to your continued NED!!!
  
  Hope
- - March 19, 2012 at 4:06 am
  - Quote
  melmar
  Participant
  Congratulations! Thanks for sharing the good news!
- - March 19, 2012 at 4:06 am
  - Quote
  melmar
  Participant
  Congratulations! Thanks for sharing the good news!
- - March 19, 2012 at 4:06 am
  - Quote
  melmar
  Participant
  Congratulations! Thanks for sharing the good news!
- - March 19, 2012 at 4:07 am
  - Quote
  melmar
  Participant
  Congratulations! Thanks for sharing the good news!
- - March 19, 2012 at 4:07 am
  - Quote
  melmar
  Participant
  Congratulations! Thanks for sharing the good news!
- - March 19, 2012 at 4:07 am
  - Quote
  melmar
  Participant
  Congratulations! Thanks for sharing the good news!
- - March 19, 2012 at 5:37 pm
  - Quote
  Eileen L
  Participant
  Great news. Thx for posting. Gives all of us Stage 4 folks hope!
  
  Eileen L
- - March 19, 2012 at 5:37 pm
  - Quote
  Eileen L
  Participant
  Great news. Thx for posting. Gives all of us Stage 4 folks hope!
  
  Eileen L
- - March 19, 2012 at 5:37 pm
  - Quote
  Eileen L
  Participant
  Great news. Thx for posting. Gives all of us Stage 4 folks hope!
  
  Eileen L
- - March 21, 2012 at 10:54 am
  - Quote
  MeNDave
  Participant
  Congrats Candi!! Doing a happy dance for you! Thanks for posting the good news…. it gives many hope 🙂
- - March 21, 2012 at 10:54 am
  - Quote
  MeNDave
  Participant
  Congrats Candi!! Doing a happy dance for you! Thanks for posting the good news…. it gives many hope 🙂
- - March 21, 2012 at 10:54 am
  - Quote
  MeNDave
  Participant
  Congrats Candi!! Doing a happy dance for you! Thanks for posting the good news…. it gives many hope 🙂
- - March 23, 2012 at 2:24 pm
  - Quote
  Drew N
  Participant
  Even though I'm not actively fighting C these days, it's amazing to hear about the progress in the last year. Plus, my secretary's MiL just started 3475 yesterday, and we now have positive experiences to think about.
  
  Drew Nelson
  
  3b since 1/09
- - March 23, 2012 at 2:24 pm
  - Quote
  Drew N
  Participant
  Even though I'm not actively fighting C these days, it's amazing to hear about the progress in the last year. Plus, my secretary's MiL just started 3475 yesterday, and we now have positive experiences to think about.
  
  Drew Nelson
  
  3b since 1/09
- - March 23, 2012 at 2:24 pm
  - Quote
  Drew N
  Participant
  Even though I'm not actively fighting C these days, it's amazing to hear about the progress in the last year. Plus, my secretary's MiL just started 3475 yesterday, and we now have positive experiences to think about.
  
  Drew Nelson
  
  3b since 1/09
- - March 23, 2012 at 2:44 pm
  - Quote
  Linny
  Participant
  What wonderful news! I hope you went out and celebrated.
- - March 23, 2012 at 2:44 pm
  - Quote
  Linny
  Participant
  What wonderful news! I hope you went out and celebrated.
  - March 27, 2012 at 9:56 pm
    
    Quote
    Candi13
    Participant
    
    Thank you all for the well wishes.
    
    Update on results from Merck pd1 trial…I was told by my the study nurse today, that there were more patients having a partial response after their 12 weeks scans. Hopeful news for this drug!
    
    Candi
  - March 27, 2012 at 9:56 pm
    
    Quote
    Candi13
    Participant
    
    Thank you all for the well wishes.
    
    Update on results from Merck pd1 trial…I was told by my the study nurse today, that there were more patients having a partial response after their 12 weeks scans. Hopeful news for this drug!
    
    Candi
  - March 27, 2012 at 9:56 pm
    
    Quote
    Candi13
    Participant
    
    Thank you all for the well wishes.
    
    Update on results from Merck pd1 trial…I was told by my the study nurse today, that there were more patients having a partial response after their 12 weeks scans. Hopeful news for this drug!
    
    Candi
- - March 23, 2012 at 2:44 pm
  - Quote
  Linny
  Participant
  What wonderful news! I hope you went out and celebrated.
- - May 13, 2013 at 2:31 am
  - Quote
  caseym
  Participant
  Hi everyone,
  
  I just wanted to see how you are all going on the PD1 trial? My mum is 3rd on the list for the second round of trials in Australia. I want to give her the good news that i have already read about this drug and also any more details that you can provide to me.
  
  I am so happy to hear that this trial seems to be working and so pleased to hear you are doing well Candi.
  
  Look forward to hearing from you
- - May 13, 2013 at 2:31 am
  - Quote
  caseym
  Participant
  Hi everyone,
  
  I just wanted to see how you are all going on the PD1 trial? My mum is 3rd on the list for the second round of trials in Australia. I want to give her the good news that i have already read about this drug and also any more details that you can provide to me.
  
  I am so happy to hear that this trial seems to be working and so pleased to hear you are doing well Candi.
  
  Look forward to hearing from you
- - May 13, 2013 at 2:31 am
  - Quote
  caseym
  Participant
  Hi everyone,
  
  I just wanted to see how you are all going on the PD1 trial? My mum is 3rd on the list for the second round of trials in Australia. I want to give her the good news that i have already read about this drug and also any more details that you can provide to me.
  
  I am so happy to hear that this trial seems to be working and so pleased to hear you are doing well Candi.
  
  Look forward to hearing from you
- - August 18, 2014 at 2:47 pm
  - Quote
  melinda2
  Participant
  THANK YOU for your post that just gave me a big, bright spot in my day. My husband is Stage IV and will start the Merck PD-1 trial at Emory in two weeks. He completed Yervoy recently and his cancer did not respond to it at all. For southeast folks, I am aware that the PD-1 trials are being done at Mayo in Jacksonville as well as Emory in Atlanta. Don't know if Moffet in Tampa has a trial program.
- - August 18, 2014 at 2:47 pm
  - Quote
  melinda2
  Participant
  THANK YOU for your post that just gave me a big, bright spot in my day. My husband is Stage IV and will start the Merck PD-1 trial at Emory in two weeks. He completed Yervoy recently and his cancer did not respond to it at all. For southeast folks, I am aware that the PD-1 trials are being done at Mayo in Jacksonville as well as Emory in Atlanta. Don't know if Moffet in Tampa has a trial program.
- - August 18, 2014 at 2:47 pm
  - Quote
  melinda2
  Participant
  THANK YOU for your post that just gave me a big, bright spot in my day. My husband is Stage IV and will start the Merck PD-1 trial at Emory in two weeks. He completed Yervoy recently and his cancer did not respond to it at all. For southeast folks, I am aware that the PD-1 trials are being done at Mayo in Jacksonville as well as Emory in Atlanta. Don't know if Moffet in Tampa has a trial program.